Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment
Schemes for Senior Citizens
The Department of Social Justice and Empowerment is implementing Atal Vayo Abhyuday Yojana  for senior citizens. AVYAY has the following components/ programmes for providing services to senior citizens:-
 Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens - Grant in aid is provided to implementing agencies for maintenance of senior citizen homes, continuous care homes, etc. Facilities like shelter, nutrition, medicare and entertainment are provided free of cost to indigent senior citizens living in Sr. Citizen homes.
- Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana - BPL senior citizens who suffer from age related disabilities/ infirmities are provided free of cost assisted devices. w.e.f. 01.04.2020. Special items like wheelchairs with commode, silicon foam cushion etc. are also provided under the Scheme, besides generic items like walking sticks, elbow crutches, hearing aid etc.
 Promoting Silver Economy – An open invitation is given on the portal namely Seniorcare Ageing Growth Engine  through which entrepreneurs are encouraged to think about the problems of the elderly and come out with innovative solutions. Under this scheme, an amount upto Rs. 1 crore as financial assistance is provided in the form of maximum 49% equity participation.
- Elderline- Help line for Sr Citizens on Toll free number 14567 launched for grievance redressal of Senior Citizens and to generate awareness about the Maintenance and Welfare of Parents and Senior Citizens  Act, 2007 and Government Policies. The Elderline functions from 8 am to 8 pm all 7 days of the week.
Under Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme of National Social Assistance Programme , Ministry of Rural Development provides a monthly pension of Rs.200/- to persons in the age group of 60 to 79 years belonging to Below Poverty Line  households. The amount of pension is increased to Rs. 500/- per month in respect of these beneficiaries on reaching the age of 80 years and above.
The central government releases the funds to States/UTs for implementation of NSAP Schemes. Funds are released to States/UTs who then disburse the pensions/ financial assistance to the beneficiaries identified by them.
The number of beneficiaries under IPSrC, RVY and IGNOAPS in Supaul, Sheohar, Sitamarhi and East Champaran districts of Bihar, Hooghly district of West Bengal and Sonipat district of Haryana are given at Annexure.
Annexure
Number of beneficiaries under Integrated Programme for Senior Citizens , Rashtriya Vayoshri Yojana  and Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme 
|
|
State
|
|
District
|
|
IPSrC #
|
|
RVY ##
|
|
IGNOAPS|
|
Bihar
|
|
Supaul
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
85,068
|
|
|
|
Sheohar
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
37,928
|
|
|
|
Sitamarhi
|
|
0
|
|
759
|
|
1,44,663
|
|
|
|
East Champaran
|
|
0
|
|
0
|
|
2,08,717
|
|
Haryana
|
|
Sonipat
|
|
50
|
|
219
|
|
22,407
|
|
West Bengal
|
|
Hooghly
|
|
25
|
|
0
|
|
58,158
# IPSrC – No. of beneficiaries are the senior citizens residing in the senior citizen homes
## RVY – No. of beneficiaries are the senior citizens who have received assisted living devicesTotal no. of beneficiaries provided assistance under IGNOAPS
This information was given by The Minister of State Social Justice and Empowerment Sushri Pratima Bhoumik in the Lok Sabha in a written reply today.